The name Hotey is an old Anglo-Saxon name. It comes from when a family lived in the parish of Oteley found in the counties of Shropshire, Suffolk and the West Riding of Yorkshire. Hotey is derived from the Old English elements "ote," or "oats" and "leah," meaning "a clearing." [1]CITATION[CLOSE]Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York, Harper & Row, 1956. Print

Early Origins of the Hotey family

The surname Hotey was first found in Suffolk where the first record of the family was found in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 as Richard de Otteleye. Kirby's Quest lists "Henry Otleghe, Somerset, Edward III" [2]CITATION[CLOSE]Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print. (Henry Otleghe held lands in Somerset during the reign of Edward III.)

Later the YorkshirePoll Tax Rolls of 1379 listed Mary Henry Hotlay as living there at that time. [3]CITATION[CLOSE]Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)

Early History of the Hotey family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hotey research.Another 370 words (26 lines of text) covering the years 1434, 1716, 1601, 1649, 1643, 1644, 1646, 1626, 1670, 1661 and 1723 are included under the topic Early Hotey History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hotey Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Hotey were recorded, including Ottley, Otley, Oatley, Oteley, Oatly and others.

Early Notables of the Hotey family (pre 1700)

Notables of the family at this time include Sir Francis Ottley (1601-1649), English Royalist knight, military governor of Shrewsbury in 1643 and later High Sheriff of Shropshire (1644-1646)... Another 28 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Hotey Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Hotey family to Ireland

Some of the Hotey family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.Another 82 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Hotey family to the New World and Oceana

To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Hotey family emigrate to North America: Thomas Otley, who is on record in Virginia in 1618; Abraham and Adam Otley, who both arrived in Lynn, Massachusetts in 1641; Darcy Oatly, who was on record in Virginia in 1657.